Yan Jiuchao shopped around the streets and alleys of the Capital for an entire day. Only when the people on the streets were gone did Yan Jiuchao return home in satisfaction.

When Yu Wan went to the Young Master Manor to deliver the shoes, Yan Jiuchao was not there. It was Uncle Wan who received Yu Wan. Yu Wan could not say that she had specially come to deliver the shoes, so she said that she had entered the Capital to buy ingredients. When Uncle Wan asked again, he knew that her family was going to hold a banquet.

However, there were many things to do these few days, so Uncle Wan forgot about this. When he remembered that he had to tell Yan Jiuchao, Yan Jiuchao went to court again.

Uncle Wan hurriedly rode his horse to look for him, but he found out that the Emperor had ended court in advance. Uncle Wan seriously suspected that the Emperor was angered by his little lunatic.

Uncle Wan waited at the entrance until it was dark before Yan Jiuchao returned. At this time, the banquet in the countryside had long dispersed.

Uncle Wan decided not to mention it. Anyway, Miss Yu did not invite the Young Master to the banquet. … He would never admit that he was afraid that the Young Master would blame him when he’s angry.

Yan Jiuchao alighted from the carriage and saw Uncle Wan at the door. He asked, “Why are you still waiting for me at the door today? What’s the matter?”

Uncle Wan said without changing his expression, “Nothing.”

“If there’s nothing, why are you standing here?” Yan Jiuchao narrowed his eyes.

Uncle Wan braced himself and said, “To take a breather!”

Yan Jiuchao sized him up skeptically and walked towards him with a cold expression.

Seeing that he was about to collapse, Uncle Wan pointed at his shoes and said wittily, “It’s so beautiful!”

Yan Jiuchao’s expression changed in a second. “Take your time to breathe. I’ll go in first.”

Uncle Wan, who had escaped a disaster: “…Phew!”

However, Yan Jiuchao still found out about Yu Wan’s family from the spies in the end. Ever since Yan Jiuchao found out that Yan Huaijing had “pestered” Yu Wan several times, he sent spies to keep an eye on Yan Huaijing. Yan Huaijing went to Lotus Flower Village, and the spies followed him all the way. When they heard the commotion in Lotus Flower Village, they knew that the Yu family was holding a banquet today.

“Young Master.” The spy knelt on one knee on the floor of the study and bowed piously.

The most powerful spy under Yan Jiuchao was Shadow Six, but Shadow Six was not the only one he could use.

Yan Jiuchao sat behind his desk and glanced at him indifferently. “What did you find?”

The spy said, “The Second Prince went to Lotus Flower Village to see Miss Yu.”

Yan Jiuchao picked up the Kongming Lock on the table. “Why is he meeting her?”

The spy frowned. “The Second Prince… seems to be asking to marry Miss Yu.”

Yan Jiuchao’s hand froze.

The spy continued, “As a secondary consort.”

He had long known that this fellow had ill intentions. As expected, while he was choosing a consort, he went to propose that girl to be his secondary consort! Yan Jiuchao sneered. “Secondary Consort? Is this Yan Huaijing’s sincerity? He’s really something!”

The spy did not dare to judge the masters’ rights and wrongs. He only lowered his head and reported, “Miss Yu did not agree. She said that she will not be someone’s secondary consort.”

“Good.” Yan Jiuchao’s expression softened.

The spy thought to himself, Young Master, what’s with your reaction? Don’t you think Miss Yu doesn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth? Is she willing to be your secondary consort when she doesn’t even agree with the prince’s proposal? With her background, she can’t be the first wife of any rich family.

However, the spy could just curse silently. He did not have the guts to say it out loud. The spy continued, “His Highness also mentioned Young Master.”

Yan Jiuchao paused. “What did he mention about me?”

“He asked Miss Yu, ‘Can Yan Jiuchao fight for the position of the Princess Consort for you?'” The spy imitated Yan Huaijing’s tone.

Yan Jiuchao snorted and asked, “What did she say?”

The spy imitated Yu Wan’s expression and tone again. “Miss Yu said, ‘I don’t know if he will or not. I only know that Your Highness won’t.'”

Not long after the spy left, Shadow Thirteen entered the room.

Shadow Thirteen had been guarding the door just now. He had heard every word of their conversation. Unlike the spies who were only responsible for one-sided missions, he, Shadow Six, and Uncle Wan were all Yan Jiuchao’s trusted aides and were almost responsible for all of Yan Jiuchao’s matters. The spies were not sure how much Yan Jiuchao had feelings for Yu Wan, but Shadow Thirteen understood.

Shadow Thirteen said, “Young Master, should we send someone to keep an eye on Miss Yu?”

Yan Jiuchao glanced at him coldly. “Why should we keep an eye on her? She’s not a criminal!”

There were only two types of people that Yan Jiuchao had spies keep an eye on. One was enemies, and the other was hostages. Yu Wan was neither of them. She had her own space and freedom.

Besides, no one liked to be spied on.

“Just keep an eye on Yan Huaijing,” Yan Jiuchao said indifferently.

“Yes,” Shadow Thirteen agreed.

Seeing that he was not leaving, Yan Jiuchao said, “What’s the matter?”

Shadow Thirteen said, “We found traces of Zhou Huai… The Second Prince’s men also found him.”

Yan Jiuchao snorted. Just as he was about to speak, Uncle Wan’s voice sounded from outside the door. “Young Master, Miss Yan is here.”

It was most likely in the name of seeing the children to see if Yan Jiuchao was in the manor.

“Young Master, do you want to reject her?” Shadow Thirteen asked.

“No need. Call her in.” Yan Jiuchao paused and instructed, “Bring the little young masters to take a shower.”

Shadow Thirteen understood and instructed the nanny to carry the three little lads to the small bath.

Since Yan Ruyu was not their biological mother, there was no need for her to see the children anymore.

Yan Jiuchao met Yan Ruyu in the reception pavilion.

Yan Ruyu was dressed very elegantly. She looked simple and clean, but every part of her was exquisite and scheming. However, in the eyes of Young Master Yan, who had been beautiful since he was young, he was more beautiful than her when he looked in the mirror, so he was not so easily moved by this appearance.

“Yu’er greets Young Master.” Yan Ruyu held the food box and bowed gently.

Yan Jiuchao nodded indifferently.

Yan Ruyu placed the food box on the table beside Yan Jiuchao and opened the lid. “On the day of the pleasure boat, I lost my composure. I can’t hold my liquor well. I shouldn’t have drunk too much. I hope Young Master can forgive me.”

“It’s fine,” Yan Jiuchao said.

He still looked indifferent, but the more he did so, the more relieved Yan Ruyu was. However, she could not help but feel a little disappointed.

Yan Ruyu took out the snacks from the food box. “I don’t know what flavor Young Master likes, but I made some according to the children’s preferences.”

“They like this?” Yan Jiuchao’s gaze landed on a plate of milky pumpkin pancakes. The pumpkin pancakes were sweet enough, and there was a layer of frosting on the outside.

Yan Jiuchao thought of Xiaobao’s rotten baby teeth and frowned. The food sent by the Yu family had always been half the sugar.

“They… don’t like it?” Yan Ruyu noticed his expression.

Yan Jiuchao said without thinking, “It’s too sweet.” He actually couldn’t taste it, but with so much sugar, he knew how it tasted.

Yan Ruyu’s expression froze and she said with a trace of grievance, “Then I’ll make something light and refreshing next time.”

Yan Jiuchao fell silent.

Yan Ruyu was so embarrassed that her face turned red. When she came to the Young Master Manor earlier, he always avoided her. Today, she finally saw him, but his face was cold. Why was this man so hard-hearted?

In order to resolve the awkwardness, Yan Ruyu asked about the three children.

Uncle Wan said from outside the door, “They just went to take a shower. It’ll take a while.”

Yan Jiuchao took the opportunity to say, “I think it’s getting late. Why don’t you go back first and come back another day?”

Since the order to leave had been given, Yan Ruyu could not be shameless. She stood up and bowed, taking the snacks that Yan Jiuchao despised and left.

“Shadow Thirteen.” Yan Jiuchao returned to the study room.

Shadow Thirteen flashed in. “Young Master, are you going to…”

“It’s not about Zhou Huai.” Yan Jiuchao interrupted him.

Shadow Thirteen was stunned. Before Miss Yan came, weren’t they talking about Zhou Huai? If they didn’t continue talking about Zhou Huai, could there be something else?

Yan Jiuchao tapped his fingers on the table. “What is everyone saying about me and Yan Ruyu?”

“Why are you suddenly asking about this?” Didn’t Young Master not care about those rumors the most? The outside world had already said that Young Master was crazy, but Young Master didn’t even bother to answer.

Yan Jiuchao said coldly, “Now you have the guts to ask me, right?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Shadow Thirteen lowered his head. “Young Master, do you want the truth?”

Yan Jiuchao’s eyes were cold. “Try lying if you dare.”

Shadow Thirteen coughed lightly. “It’s nothing. It’s just that Yan Ruyu gave birth to Young Master’s children and will marry into the Young Master Manor to be the matriarch in the future.”

“When did I say I wanted to marry her?” Yan Jiuchao frowned.

Shadow Thirteen curled his lips and said, “You didn’t say that, but isn’t it obvious? The Yan family has been vindicated, and Miss Yan’s father has been promoted. Isn’t His Majesty giving your wife’s family’s face by valuing the Yan family so much?”

“She… thinks so too?” Yan Jiuchao said sadly.

“Which her?” Shadow Thirteen was stunned for a moment before he reacted. “You’re talking about Miss Yu. It’s most likely true. The entire world thinks so!”

Yan Jiuchao stood up and walked out of the door without another word.

Shadow Thirteen’s eyebrows twitched. “Young Master, it’s so late. Where are you going?”

Yan Jiuchao turned back. “That’s true. I can’t go. You go.”

Shadow Thirteen: “???”

… .

Shadow Thirteen wanted to slap himself. What kind of mouth was that!

Yu Wan was tired for the entire day. After washing up, she lay down beside Little Bruiser. Sleepiness came quickly, and before long, she was in a daze. However, just as she was about to fall asleep, someone pried open her window!

Yu Wan suddenly opened her eyes!

“Miss Yu, it’s me.” Shadow Thirteen whispered.

Shadow Thirteen only pried open a small gap in the window latch. He stood outside the window and did not enter.

Yu Wan put on her clothes and gently walked to the bed. She pushed open the window and said, “Shadow Guard, why are you here?”

Shadow Thirteen closed his eyes and said, “Young Master asked me to bring you a few words.”

“What is it?” Yu Wan looked at him strangely.

Shadow Thirteen went all out and said, “Young Master said that he won’t marry Yan Ruyu. Stop being jealous of Yan Ruyu.”

Yu Wan was stunned. When did she become jealous of Yan Ruyu? She had never been jealous at all!

“Also, one pair of shoes is enough to please Young Master. There’s no need to make four pairs and send them over. It’s as if you’re afraid that the Young Master doesn’t understand your pain of missing him.”

Those three pairs were for the children! They were mainly for the children! His were just done incidentally!

Yu Wan clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.

“Also, you’re a girl. But you and the Young Master aren’t official yet, no matter how much you like him, you have to keep it in your heart. Don’t be too explicit. A girl has to be reserved.”

Yu Wan was about to explode with anger. Listen, listen, listen, what is he saying? She was not reserved when she made shoes for him?! Then what was the point of him giving her shoes?!

Yu Wan gritted her teeth and said, “Go back and tell him that I won’t give him the shoes anymore! Ask him to return it to me!”

“Young Master expected Miss Yu to say that and has already asked me to send the things over,” Shadow Thirteen said. He bent down and picked up two heavy bags from the ground. “The things Miss Yu wants are all in the box.”

Yu Wan felt as if her heart had been stabbed. In order to make shoes for him and the children, she pulled an all-nighter, until her eyes were swollen, to make them. In the end, he said that she was not reserve enough and returned all her hard work to her.

There were two boxes. It was obvious. One contained his shoes, and the other contained the children.

“Miss Yu, I’ve given you the things. I’ll leave first.” Shadow Thirteen placed the things on the table inside the window and used his qinggong to leave.

The window lintel did not have any support, and the things fell down and smashed heavily against the frame, startling the sleeping Little Bruiser.

Yu Shaoqing was also woken up by the commotion. He quickly walked to Yu Wan’s room. “Ah Wan! What’s wrong?”

Yu Wan suddenly felt a little wronged. She did not want her father to know about her and Yan Jiuchao. She composed herself and said in her usual tone, “It’s nothing. There’s a rat. It has already run out of the window. Dad, go and rest. I’m sleeping too.”

“Are you really alright?” Yu Shaoqing asked worriedly.

Yu Wan smiled and shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Yu Shaoqing walked around the house again and after confirming that there was no danger, he returned to his room to sleep.

The more Yu Wan thought about it, the angrier she became. She tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. She simply lifted the blanket and got off the bed. She found a pair of scissors and ruthlessly cut open the bag.

“Everything Miss Yu wants is inside.”

Ha, what she wanted? Why didn’t he say that he despised it and returned it to her?! How much did this guy despise her? He actually asked Shadow Thirteen to return it to her overnight!

Yu Wan opened the first brocade box angrily. There was indeed a pair of shoes inside, but it was not the black cloth shoes she had made for Yan Jiuchao. Instead, it was a pair of red embroidered shoes.

Yu Wan’s hand that was holding the scissors suddenly stopped.

Yu Wan opened the second brocade box. Inside was not the three pairs of tiger shoes she had made for the little munchkins, but a red wedding dress.

The wedding dress was as bright as fire, and her heart was also on fire.